St. Pauli’s Jackson Irvine after fourth straight goalless defeat: “We must play for our lives.” | OneFootball

Another goalless home loss at the Millerntor leaves promoted Bundesliga outfit St. Pauli fearful of another immediate relegation. The last time Hamburg’s Kiezkicker made it to the German top flight lasted only a fleeting instant. Holger Stanislawski’s team earned promotion from the second division at the end of the 2009/10 campaign, only to finish dead last in the Bundesliga and go straight back down one year later.

Recent history has not at all been kind to one of Germany’s famed “punk rock” clubs. A stay in the top flight at the turn of the century was also short lived. Another dead last finish at the 2001/02 season spelled the end of a one-year-stay in the German footballing Oberhaus. This time around – despite plenty of injury problems – it does appear as if the Hanseatic club will at least not finish last.

Head coach Alexander Blessin’s team sit 15th, on 21 points, four points above the relegation playoff place. There nevertheless remains plenty of cause for alarm. Current relegation place playoff holders Bochum appear set to pick up extra points administratively.

Moreover, Saturday’s home defeat against Borussia Dortmund also constitutes the fourth consecutive loss with scoring a goal. No other Bundesliga side has scored fewer goals (18) than St. Pauli this year. Blessin’s side didn’t even score their first goal at home this season until the 12th matchday.

In nine competitive fixtures since the turn of the calendar year, St. Pauli have been shut out six times and only scored six goals in 810 minutes of football.

The squad’s colorful captain Jackson Irvine – who also serves as the skipper for the Australian national team – made an urgent appeal when speaking in the mixed zone after the latest defeat.

”With the big picture in mind, we have to find answers, and we have to find them quickly,” Irvine said. “We have to have difficult conversations and make quick changes. We still have ten games and have to play for our lives.”

GGFN | Peter Weis